The Best Sci-Fi & Fantasy Book Subscription Boxes

Want new YA and/or adult fantasy boxes in the mail every month? Then check out these magical fantasy book subscription boxes!

*This post contains affiliate links*

If you want all the pros and cons of the best sci-fi and fantasy book subscription boxes on the market, then you have come to the right place. I am going to break down everything you need to know about these boxes so you can spend your money on something that is truly amazing.

 

Sci-Fi and Fantasy Subscription Boxes

There are so many different subscription boxes on the market for fantasy and sci-fi books. But how do you know which ones are great and which ones you should pass on? It can be hard since a lot of them may look great, but things aren’t always what they appear. Of course, there are a lot of super popular ones, but there are a lot of fantastic little-known book subscription boxes as well. I am going to let you know which ones I have tried and loved, and which ones to stay away from.

Popular Fantasy Book Boxes

These are the most popular boxes on the market right now. But just because they are popular, doesn’t mean they are worth your money. 

The Bookish Box

The Bookish Box is a super popular book subscription, but lately, it has been getting a ton of negative publicity. They are known for having beautiful special editions in their boxes, but once they arrive to you, you will start noticing all of the imperfections. 

While I won’t get into all of the Bookish Box drama, I will say that I don’t think this box is worth your money. So many people are getting messed up books. Not only that, they are shipping EXTREMELY late. People are having to wait MONTHS for their boxes. They also don’t have the best reputation when it comes to their customer service. 

So if you are wanting the best fantasy book box, then I would skip on this one.

Illumicrate

Another super popular fantasy book box is Illumicrate. They ship from the UK and send out boxes with a new fantasy release every single month. Their books range between older YA fantasy, some adult fantasy, and some sci-fi ( adult and ya). They always tend to have really beautiful sprayed edges and unique cover re-designs.

The “stuff” that comes in the boxes tends to be mainly functional ( candles, mugs, notebooks), along with some fun character art and decor.

I have been subscribed to them for a while now, and I pretty much always love what I get in their boxes. After all, is said and done, it costs about $50 ( give or take) to get Illumicrate in the United States. So, Is Illumicrate worth it? I would say yes!

FairyLoot

Another super popular book subscription is FairyLoot. They are very similar to Illumicrate, where they ship from the UK and offer beautiful books with really great items. 

They differ in a few ways though. For one, FairyLoot offers a book-only version of their YA fantasy box. Which is cheaper than a regular monthly box. They also offer a book-only adult box. I personally get the YA full box and the adult FairyLoot box. 

I will say, the adult books so far have been a little lacking and I wish they had better adult fantasy book options. But since this is a new offering, I am hoping it will improve as time goes on. 

So, is FairyLoot worth it? For about $50 to the US, I would say yes. I really enjoy my FairyLoot boxes every month.

OwlCrate

Next up is OwlCrate. This is a super popular YA fantasy book box. They offer YA and also have an OwlCrate Jr where they do a monthly middle-grade box. 

A while back, they also fell under the social media gun with some controversy surrounding Harry Potter mug sets and a statement from the owner. That aside, I did end up canceling my OwlCrate box but continue to get OwlCrate Jr for my daughter. 

I found that their special editions weren’t as pretty as Illumicrate or FairyLoot. Edges were rarely sprayed. And they had a lot of book overlap with the other boxes I have already mentioned. So I personally didn’t need two copies of a lot of these books. 

The middle-grade box though is still wonderful and my 9-year-old loves it. The books are really cute and the items are age appropriate. 

OwlCrate ships within the US and is less expensive at $32 per month. So, Is OwlCrate worth it? Yes and no. I think the YA box is not the best, but the middle-grade box is great. 

Less Popular Fantasy Book Subscription Boxes

Now that we have talked about the most popular fantasy book boxes, we can dive into some of the lesser-known ones. With these, you are more likely to find a gem in the rough for sure!

Nerdy Book Box

Are you a self-published fantasy fan? Then you have to check out the Nerdy Box Box! This is an independent book box that focuses on self and indie-published books. 

They send out a book every month, and you can do either the full box or a book-only box. I think this is an awesome way to discover new smaller authors with some amazingly beautiful books! The owner is also very active on TikTok and I really love watching her content.

Price-wise, they run about the same as the other boxes. $42 for a full box and $23 for a book only. 

Mysterious Galaxy Sci-Fi & Fantasy Book Crate

Mysterious Galaxy is an independent bookstore that specializes in Sci-fi and fantasy books. They decided to put together a monthly book box and it is great. 

While they don’t have special editions and sprayed edges, they do include a new diverse SFF title every month with bookmarks and goodies in every box.

You can pick up the Mysterious Galaxy Box on CrateJoy, an awesome website that allows businesses to create and distribute their subscription boxes for a variety of different things. This box will run you $36 per month and you will be supporting an independent book store!

My Sci-Fi Club Book Box

This is a really fun box for fantasy and sci-fi lovers.  The My Sci-Fi Club Book Box boasts a quick shipping time ( under 48 hours)! In their boxes, they have not one, but two sci-fi or fantasy books every month. 

You can even pick sci-fi, fantasy, or surprise me! This box will only run you $18 per box too! Which is quite a deal!

Young Adult Book Monthly

If you are looking for a YA book-only box, then check out Young Adult Book Monthly. 

For only $17 per month, you will get one newly released YA book from a diverse author. The select books that tackle today’s most relevant social issues. This is a great deal for a new release hardback book every month.

Caffeine & Legends

Caffeine & Legends is a unique book box that offers a fantasy book plus either coffee, tea, or hot chocolate every month! 

I love the coffee box and highly recommend it. Not only do you get a cool book and a new hot beverage, you will also be supporting small businesses that are featured in every box. 

You can pick this one up for only $40 per month!

This is by no means ALL of the sci-fi and fantasy book subscription boxes on the market. There are new ones popping up every day and honestly, I am always down to try a new one. I love the surprise that these boxes provide and the fun new books I may not have picked up on my own. Let me know if you get any of these boxes or if you recommend others, let me know those too!